Conman caused OAP’s death

Apr 8 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

A MANSLAUGHTER investigation has been launched after an 82-year-old woman was robbed in her home by a confidence trickster.

Margaret Briers opened her door to a man claiming to be a policeman at 9pm on Sunday March 30. He then assaulted her and rummaged through her bungalow in Caldbeck Grove, Clinkham Wood, St Helens.

He made off with a tin containing £16 leaving the elderly lady on the floor suffering from a broken hip.

Mrs Briers’s family found her collapsed on the floor the next day after a night of agony.

Paramedics were called and she was taken to Whiston Hospital. But she died on Saturday.

A post mortem revealed that she had contracted a chest infection after the assault and police have now launched a manslaughter investigation.

Superintendent Peter Edge said: “This will be carried out with all the rigour and discipline of a murder investigation.”

They are searching for a slim, white man in his mid 30s who is about 5ft 8in tall. He was clean shaven with sharp facial features.

Mrs Briers told police before she died that he was wearing a blue peaked cap and a dark blue buttoned up coat as well as dirty looking brown shoes and gloves.